My friends wanted to find a spot to celebrate a special birthday. We settled on this place. It's right off the square which is perfect. We seated at the front table since we were a larger party. It was hard to hear people talking. I felt like I was competing with the music speaker above us. We started with cocktails which were good. I got the limoncello martini. The basil made it really "earthy" and if ordering again, I'd skip. I wasn't too hungry so we did family style and shared. My favorite dish was the meatball and the sausage dish. I had higher expectations for the chicken parm. The arancini tasted a little burnt. That was my first time having it so I was surprised when I saw it basically looked like a meatball. Overall, a great night with friends. The pistachio cake was delicious!! read more

See all

Frank, Chef, and the entire team have created something truly special. From the moment you walk through the door, you're treated like family. My wife and I dine here regularly, and every visit feels like coming home. The genuine hospitality and personal attention from the staff are what keep us coming back time and time again. The food is consistently outstanding. Whether we're trying a new dish or ordering one of our favorites, every meal is prepared with care, quality ingredients, and incredible attention to detail. You can tell there is a passion for great food behind everything that comes out of the kitchen. The bar program deserves special recognition as well. The bartenders work with fresh ingredients and premium spirits, and you can taste the difference immediately. Every cocktail is balanced, flavorful, and thoughtfully crafted rather than simply poured. It's clear they take as much pride in the drinks as the kitchen does in the food. The service team is equally impressive. The waitstaff is always friendly, attentive, and accommodating without ever making you feel rushed. They genuinely want you to enjoy your experience and go out of their way to make every visit memorable. The atmosphere is another reason this place stands out. The music is always perfectly curated, creating the ideal backdrop for an intimate dinner, date night, or evening out with friends. It strikes that rare balance of being lively and energetic while still allowing for conversation. What truly separates this restaurant from others is the sense of community. It's one of the few places where you're greeted with a hug when you arrive and often another when you leave. That level of warmth and authenticity simply can't be manufactured. If you're anywhere near South Florida, it's absolutely worth making the trip to Hollywood for an unforgettable dining experience. And whatever you do, don't leave without ordering the focaccia bread. It may sound simple, but it's one of the stars of the menu--fresh, flavorful, perfectly prepared, and the ideal way to start an exceptional meal. This is more than just a restaurant; it's a place where great food, great people, and great memories come together. read more

Hollywood hidden gem! With no sign outside, it is easy to walk past, but Carmela's is not to be missed. We were seated quickly on a Monday night, but the restaurant filled up throughout our meal. Not cheap, we came to celebrate a special occasion. We started with the fried squash blossoms, which were hot and crispy. The pasta in the spicy rigatoni (not very spicy at all) was cooked perfectly. The lobster pasta felt a little light on lobster, but was otherwise a good dish. We ended with the espresso crème brûlée, which was a hit! read more

Carmela’s - Carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

See all

The food was not flavorful & the shrimp was over cooked. The drinks were just okay, nothing special. The music in there was a bit loud which made it hard to hear while having a conversation. It seems super over priced for the amount of food & lack of flavor. I personally would not recommend this place. read more

Carmela’s - Chicken parmesan (top), linguini (middle) & tagliatelle with chicken & shrimp (bottom) - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Carmela's is our go to place for great Italian in Hollywood! It's a smaller and intimate restaurant with great service. We typically sit at the bar unless we go with friends! They have wonderful craft cocktails (pricey) and daily food specials. We have never been disappointed in any of the food we have tried here! They do offer lunch also but we have not been able to get around to trying it out yet! read more

Carmela’s - Ravioli with Demi sauce and mushroom special - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

See all

Such a wonderful atmosphere for a family dinner! The pasta tasted very fresh and was such an individual experience in of itself because it is currently a rarity in my life and properly made noodles stand out which was 100% the case here. The chef hit the mark with the classic flavors, the cook and overall presentation with everything we ordered. We had great service, terrific wine, fantastic Italian cuisine and a lovely family experience...what else can I say?...we were smitten with Carmela's. read more

See all

Hidden Italian gem! Delicious food and even better staff and service. Had to try a little bit of everything and it was so good. Will definitely be back again! read more

Carmela’s - Meatballs, burrata, garlic bread - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

See all

Four of us were new to Carmela's and we enjoyed our dinner tremendously. It was the weekend and there was an Art Walk going on. There was lots of street activity. Carmela's was packed. Luckily we had a reservation and were seated immediately. Every dish we had was top notch - delicious! 5 stars all the way around. The food was extraordinary to be sure. We had fantastic service as well. I include a picture of each dish with this review. We started with a bottle of the Prelius Cabernet ($64). It was good, but not as delicious as the food. For appetizers we ordered the Burrata and a special of the night, the meatball Crostini. Each had nice portions and were excellent tasting. Our main entrees were the Rigatoni Vodka, Orecchiette pasta, Squid Ink Pasta with Scallops, and Chicken Parmesan. All were 5 stars! See the photos. The restaurant is medium to small in size. The tables are fairly close together. You could hear your neighbor's conversation. Some love the intimacy of this setting. I could have used more space. Another Italian restaurant a few blocks away on Young Circle has equally great food but with more floor space for greater privacy. Overall, this is a 5 star restaurant. Each item was an A+. It gets a little loud but this adds to the festive atmosphere. read more

See all

Had my birthday dinner here and overall it was a good experience. The food was okay I would rate it 7/10, quite enjoyable. The service was definitely the highlight though; everyone was very attentive and made the night feel special. It's a nice little spot for a good dinner and a relaxed atmosphere. read more

Carmela’s - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Service excellent, ambiance fair. The food was below average. For all the hype about the lasagna on the website, to have it unavailable, like it was never a thought in the restaurant was so disappointing. The linguine with clams were tasteless. Out of 6 different dishes no one enjoyed their meals. That night at least 2 out of 6 were with very bad stomach aches. Will definitely not return to this establishment. read more

Stopped here on a Friday night on an impromptu adventure! There weren't two empty seats together at the bar, however, the staff asked two patrons if they wouldn't mind readjusting their seats to accommodate us. Once seated we were greeted by a very enthusiastic Marco, bartender extraordinaire, mixologist, and alchemist. Such a warm and inviting personality and made you feel comfortable and relaxed. This place is right up our alley! It's chill, relaxed, and dimly lit. They had a faux fireplace going on the tv and plenty of bottles on the wall. Small bottles of bitters, tinctures, and "experiments" were tastefully scattered about. A neon chalk board behind the wall listed their various hand crafted cocktails that were available for the night. We opted for the Nero's Manhattan and the Fields of Strawberry's for the first selection. Watching Marco craft the cocktails was a treat. He carefully selected ripe and quality ingredients. He pulled a container of fresh strawberries from the cooler and examined the contents. Not being happy with the quality, he got a different container and selected ones to his standards. This also happened with the edible flowers. You can tell that quality and customer satisfaction matters to Marco and that is what you want in a bartender/mixologist. There was an interesting cocktail on the menu that piqued my interest, The Butterscotch! Low and behold it is a butter fat washed Dalmore 12! I asked Marco if he fat washed the Dalmore and he lit up and enthusiastically said yes. This led to a conversation about fat washing which I too have done in the past. Yes, we were nerding out. Marco crafted the Butterscotch which consisted of the Dalmore 12 over a square ice block with a toffee crumble. Wow, such a pleasant unctuous quality that truly can't be described. It needs to be experienced! The other bartender working was Marianna! She was very nice and even shared a personal story about herself that was touching and inspirational. Next time we visit I'm going to have her make her signature cocktail. The menu listed an assortment of apps, salads, pasta and pizza. I went with the linguini carbonara and was very happy with the selection. The pasta was a perfect al dente and the cheesy creamy carbonara was excellent. The egg yolk blended perfectly and the amount of pancetta was evenly balanced. If you are looking for a low key chill place to relax and have expertly crafted cocktails and quality food, this is your place! read more

See all

I have to say this is our first time visiting and we enjoyed the food. My only complaint which I guess is partially my fault. We ordered chicken Parm and it didn't come with any spaghetti, which I found quite odd. I've never had chicken Parm without a side of pasta while I understand the chicken is a huge portion it's still $30 and I truly would've expected even just a spoon of pasta to go with it. The tiramisu did lax some flavor, especially the coffee, but the cheesecake was out of this world. The clams linguine was delicious. We also had a salad which is not pictured and the rice balls. I did like the meat that they used in the rice balls. It was a shredded beef versus ground beef, which I thought was an amazing touch. The margarita was OK. It was very pretty, but not very flavorful. It was not busy on a Sunday which I was quite surprised, but we were happy to enjoy a pretty quiet restaurant. I'll definitely be back. They don't have any kids options on the menu so keep that in mind if you are going with Kids all in all it was a good 4.5 out of five. read more

See all

PUB CRAWL - 2ND STOP.... Was told by a bartender from another bar to stop into Carmela's Speak Easy (no front signage), which we did and met with the bartender, Marco, who made the wife a Carmela Spritz $15.00 with basil which she went nuts over. Marco even has his own extracts that he blends into the drinks. The bottles of liquor behind the bar was stacked tastefully. If youre into custom cocktails this is your place. Many classy white sheet tables in the main room. The bathroom is very clean. read more

See all

Nice place very friendly staff food was very good I would recommend trying Carmela's

We have Been coming here for 6 years absolutey loved this place and its people. Frankie and Daniel are amazing! Unfortunately the Chef Anthony left. He was a great upcoming chef. After 2 tries since he is gone the food and menu have gone down so much. So so sad we used too love this place. I didn't even eat half of my food tonight. Pastas overcooked I count even pick up with a fork, and didn't tastes good at all. Apps were just ok and drinks are Overpriced. 22$ a cocktail ? This place went from a great unique Place with great service and amazing food to a tourist trap!! We are so upset ! It's all about the food and the chef change was a huge mistake! Feel sorry for the workers there they are great but the food will destroy what made this place a unique neighborhood gem! read more

I was super excited to dine at Carmela's again but ended up being very disappointed with my experience. To start off, our server was rude, impatient and rushed us to order. He also failed to accurately describe the dishes on the menu or the spice level of the sauces. Half of us could not enjoy our meal because the dishes were overly spicy and/or drenched in unappealing sauce. It was definitely a subpar experience on every level. read more

See all

Excellent overall experience. The casarecce was fantastic, some of the best pasta I've had in South Florida in a while. Very flavorful and filling despite being a simple dish. However the beef Carpaccio while being very well seasoned with good salad may have been the worlds thinnest sliced Carpaccio. It was translucent it was so thin. Definitely not even an oz of beef. Possibly 2 grams for $25. Buyer beware on that. Caesar salad special was very good also. 5 stars overall. read more

Carmela’s - Beef Carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

See all

Excellent Italian spot in downtown Hollywood!! Was a bit confused at first because there was no sign out front, but once inside, it's very posh and classy. Came on NYE with a reservation. The place filled up quickly, most guests seemed to have reservations. We were tempted to try the limoncello martini, will make sure to try it next time. Seemed to be a popular drink choice. - Calamari: 5/5 (asked for sauce on the side) - Mafalda shrimp scampi: 5/5, light and flavorful - Spaghetti, sub with papardelle: 5/5 - Linguine carbonara: 5/5 - Tonarelli cacio e pepe: 5/5 The shrimp scampi and spaghetti had 3 pieces of protein each, but otherwise very good. Look forward to coming back!! read more

See all

Unfortunate I can't give a "0." Overpriced and disappointing. We've been coming here for years, but the quality has gone downhill. The hostess was flat-out rude and seemed more interested in checking herself out in the mirror than acknowledging guests. Food is wildly inconsistent in portion size, flavor, and even ingredients. It's nowhere near worth the price--especially since they charge for bread, even when you ask for the regular (non-garlic) bread. Service is constantly changing because they can't keep waiters. Tables are crammed together; they're clearly going for "intimate," but it just feels cheap and uncomfortable. To top it off, their best bartender, Marco, was fired--apparently due to how poorly the family treats staff. Definitely not worth it anymore. read more

Amazing place to go with your kids and family , fresh pasta , amazing service .!!!!!!!!!

Amazing service and the food was divine. Higher priced but worth it. Definitely coming back. read more

See all

Amazing food and service. Sat at the bar and bartender recommended a delicious red wine. We had lasagna and chicken parm and both were so yummy! read more

Amazing presentation tonight. Personalized service. Beautiful expresso martini in a small gold challis. Great ambiance. read more

Carmela’s - Amazing Eggplant special of the evening!! Delish Expresso Martinis too! - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

What an awesome restaurant. Food is always great. Great service, even when is a big group of people. Loved it! read more

See all

My husband and I went on Valentine's Day. We both had not been there before. We started with a few specialty drinks. We ordered two crostini appetizers fig and chicken liver and also prosciutto and ricotta. For our entrees we both ordered the specials seafood risotto and a lamb chop. Everything was delicious and we can't wait to go back. read more

See all

The food here was absolutely exquisite. Did not expect this to be such a great experience. The service was amazing as well. The chicken Parmesan was delicious! read more

The rigatoni is my favorite but every single dish here is fabulous. And the espresso martini is a hit. It's a small restaurant, dim lighting super cute and service is always on point. One of my favorite places in downtown Hollywood. read more

Carmela’s - Rigatoni, garlic bread, meatballs, spaghetti & espresso martini. - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Carmelas is my favorite Italian food in Hollywood. We love to sit at the bar. The service is amazing and the food as well. We typically get a few appetizers and a homemade] pasta to share. This time, we had the creme Brule and the chocolate pastacio cake....too die for!!!! read more

Carmela’s - The BEST Old-fashioned - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

The food and service were excellent, as always. Best Italian restaurant in Hollywood.

This review is long overdue , I've I could give this place 10 stars I would . I've been coming for quite some time and every time is an experience. Every time I walk In I am always greeted by the manager Frank who make me feel like I'm part of the place . Then to follow is the head chef Anthony both greet me by name and ask me if there is anything special I'd like . The bartending staff Especially Paige who also not only remembers my drink of choice and exactly what spirit brand i would like it to be made with . This is the recipe for keeping patrons like myself returning. Over the years I have brought many friends who have returned and since the day I have brought them they receive this exact same service . The food is second to none as well as the service , ambiance and the feeling of being welcome . THANK YOU CARMELAS read more

Carmela’s - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Amazing restaurant their Ala vodka is absolutely amazing. Ambiance is perfect for dinner dates with a partner, or just hanging with friends and family. I come here all the time for special occasions! read more

See all

Ambience was amazing the service was spectacular and the food was delicious the waiter recommend food even advised us on the best meals to pair with wine will definitely go back read more

The menu and atmosphere were tempting, but I was disappointed. The flavors were ok, but not extraordinary in any way, and when you're dropping $150 on dinner for two, you need better than that. Service was friendly. Cocktails were $18 a pop. The wine pour was generous, tasty and frankly, the only thing about my experience that made me feel I had gotten good value. I did enjoy the camaraderie at the bar, where we ate. There seemed to be a lot of regulars, so I guess the place is doing something right. Or it could just be that this is the closest thing to upscale, more sophisticated dining that downtown Hollywood is able to provide. read more

This place gets busy so make sure you have a reservation on weekends! My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered with the mad alchemist. This guy with the handlebar mustache is the greatest bartender I have ever ever ever ever experienced! Watching him make our cocktails was like watching a scientist in a lab. Each drink was delicious and perfection. We had a Paloma and a Hemingway. The food was outstanding, such flavor, so filling! The chicken Parmesan came as a HUGE piece of meat in a tasty red sauce. The pasta was carbonara was so creamy and flavorful with huge tasty pieces of well cooked pancetta. The clams oreganata appetizer, maybe I would skip next time because mostly bread crumbs. Overall, my favorite nice Italian restaurant in this area! Love love love and will definitely be back. read more

Went here tonight for my anniversary dinner and it was absolutely amazing. From the service, management, chef... every interaction we had was top notch hospitality and service! Frankie the manager was great and friendly. We enjoyed talking to him and he made us feel like family. Daniel was our server and he made great recommendations and was knowledgeable about the food and menu. This will now be our regular spot. They have different specials daily so be sure to call and ask! read more

See all

Less than average food for above average prices. Their "special " Chicken Parmigiana Vodka sauce was rubbery, the steak at $46 went into the "doggy" bag for the dog, literally! We are definitely not returning ! read more

This place is unmarked, but it's right next to the tipsy boar about 20 yards down to the right. We had a recommendation to come here from one of my boyfriends customers and we brought my family for an early Christmas celebration. We absolutely loved it. From the moment you walk in the ambience was lively. People are all chattering. The lighting is dim, and it feels like a very authentic Italian energy. Our server was Danielle, she was very sweet. We started with a verdicchio white wine after she recommended it and brought out a sample. Sweet but not too sweet, dry but not too dry. Paired well with pasta. For appetizers We had recommendations to try the ricotta crostini and personally it was my favorite dish of the meal. It was the toasty crusted bread with the creamy and seasoned ricotta with fresh prosciutto on top, and it was an exquisite combination of flavor and texture. We also tried baby gem salad and the Arancini. I thought the baby gems presentation was unique, and I loved the simplicity and flavors it had. my boyfriend loved the arancini as well, since he doesn't eat pork it was a great appetizer for him. It was crispy and fried on the outside with decent mozzarella inside, I thought it was good, but I wouldn't personally write home about it. For the main course, we all try different things, between us, we've tried the chicken, Parm, truffle, pasta, with shrimp, seafood pasta, And rigatoni. All of the dishes tasted authentic. Really it was a great meal and the energy surrounding the entire experience was positive. Prices are somewhat reasonable, around $30 per dish. We will for sure be back again soon to try other pastas and the branzino that was on special. thanks! read more

Carmela’s - Arancini, baby gem salad, ricotta crostini - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

See all

Stopped by on New Year's Eve for a quick last dinner at the bar. The spicy rigatoni was everything I wanted and more. It had so much flavor. The bartenders, Marco and Marianna were also incredible, I recommend that you let them craft a customized cocktail for you. Friendly and attentive. The place is small but has super cozy chic vibes. I'll definitely be back/ read more

Carmela’s - Spicy rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Really cool place. Great staff. Great drinks food is excellent You can tell the family has been in the restaurant business for decades. A different type of restaurant experience for downtown Hollywood read more

If you are not eating here, you are not eating! Some of the best food I have had in a long time. And FRANK, let's talk about FRANK. He was phenomenal. If you are visiting or live here, eat here often! read more